Ancient Science of life Vol No XVI I July 1996, Page 50-59

PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESSING IN PANCHAKARMA VIS –A-VIS POLIO MYELITIS

ANJANA CHAUBE, P.K.PRAJAPATI and S.K.DIXIT Department of Rasasastra, I.M.S., B.H.U., Varanasi – 221 005

Received: 22 March, 1996 Accepted: 4 May, 1996 ABSTRACT: The physical and chemical characteristics differ depending upon the pharmaceutical processing of medicated oils. These changes eventually influence the actions of these medicaments this particular aspect is highlighted in this article.

INTRODUCTION

Ayurveda is a rich storehouse of time-tested administered in small ode and for less and effective recipes for the treatment of number of days. several obstinate and otherwise incurable diseases. More important than these recipes The term panchakarma literally means five are the specialized therapies which while specialized Therapies. Chakrapanidatta says curing such diseases strengthen the that karma denotes 3extensive management immunity system in body and thus help in and pronounced potency for elimination of the prevention of diseases and preservation impurities. The five therapies which are as well as promotion of positive health. included under this collective term are as These specialized therapies in ayurvedic following parlance are called panchakarma. It is no wonder therefore that scientists and 1. Vamana (Emesis) physicians in India and abroad is evincing 2. Virechana (Purgation) deep interest in this classical form of ayurvedic treatment. 3. Niruha Vasti (non unctuous enema)

4. Anuvasana vasti (unctuous enema) Ayurvedic treatment is broadly classified into two categories (Evacuatory or 5. Nasya or shiro virechana (head Eliminatory) and shamana (Pacificatory) evacuation) shodhana occupies the first place; so if one opens any chapter on the treatment of diseases in ayurvedic classics the first point Some authors take Niruha and Anuvasana which will strike the attention is the under vasti and complete the number five by description of panchakarma measures for adding Rakta mokshana (Blood Letting). In that ailment, recipes coming next there after. case of polio myelitis disease only Pancha karma therapy primarily aims at vastikarma may be applicable. cleansing the body of accumulated impurities and nourishing the tissues. This The importance of Pancha karma in therapy if administered appropriately makes is testified by the fact that it is the body more receptive to other remedies essentially applicable to all cases covering a and produce the curing effect even when wide range of preventive, curative and

1 Pages 50 - 59 promotive conditions. It is not only an equilibrium for treatment of polio myelitis important component of treatment but it also snehana and karma should be done forms the fundamental basis of ayurvedic as poorva karma through Abhyanga and therapy. It is postulated that the vitiated panda sveda then pradhana karma should and of body need to be be done in form of vasti followed by eliminated radically before a palliative pashchat karma i.e. Sansarjana karma, therapy is given. The palliative therapy in Abhyanga karma or massage therapy helps form of drug and diets may not be effective in promotion and regulation of proper unless the body channels are cleansed and functioning of vata or nervous system. Since morbid doshas and malas are eliminated. each king of drug therapy comprises of This is an unique approach and is very some specific pharmaceutical processings fundamental Ayurveda. for suitable administration of the medicaments into the body. This Sanshodhana Karma has been broadly pharmaceutical processing imparts major classified into three parts role in exhibiting the effect of the medicaments on body tissues. So to get 1. Poorva Karma desired effects o body the drugs should must be processed pharmaceutically in proper 2. Pradhana Karma way. If any fault remains during processing 3. Pashchat Karma it may alter the ultimate effect of medicaments. Thus it is important to note

that each and every step of eh processing There is some difference opinion among should must be properly standardized to different authors Ayurvedic regarding the obtain the optimum action of the drug. elaborative description. Vagbhatta opines

that sanshodhana measure should out be In poliomyelitis at first snehana Karma is carried out with prior administration of done by Abhyanga which helps is promotion Poorva Karma because mere sanshodhana and regulation of proper function of Vata or can not eradicate doshas. nervous system. Oil alleviates vata but does

not aggravate Kapha. Among the different As we know poliomyelitis is a vata disorder, types of oil collected from oil seeds, sesame caused by the affliction of the nervous oil is the best which can be used for massage system. All the physical and psychic alone of after being cooked by adding functions of the individual are regulated by different drugs in it. This technique the oil is three basic factors Viz. Vata pitta and boiled with prescribed decoction and paste Kapha, out of which Vata regulates all of drugs according to the proscribed sensory and motor functions of nervous procedure, this process ensures absorption of system. The activities of pitta and kapha are the active therapeutic properties of the also regulated by vata and therefore, vata ingredients used. Mostly oil soluble plays the most important role in the creation fractions of these ingredients are collected sustenance, decay and destruction of body. through this process. So for the individual to be healthy and happy vata should be kept in state of

2 Pages 50 - 59 PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESSING FOR PREPARATION OF MEDICATED OIL (SNEHA KALPANA):

A. Materials

S.No Ingredient quantity

1 Oil 1 part

2 Paste of drugs ¼ part

3 Liquid 4 part

B. Method:

1 For past of drugs – Kalka Kalpana is applied. In this technique the drugs are ground with or without water to make a paste.

2. For Liquid-

i) If it is juice then Swarasa kalpana is applied for its preparation ii) If it is a decoction than kwatha Kalpana is applied for its preparation

I) Swarasa Kalpana: Washed & (a) Green drug …….. Squeezed through cloth …….. Swarasa (Juice) (crushed)

Boiled Up to (b) Dry drug+ water…….. Swarasa ¼ quantity

left as such (c) Dry drug+ water ………… mashed & squeezed through cloth … Swarasa

for 24 hrs

(d) Paste of drugs ------kept in specific leaves and wraped with clay ---- heated upto Cool red ness ----- paste taken out squeezed through cloth -----Æ swarasa

(iii) Kwatha Kalpana

3 Pages 50 - 59 Boiled Drug + water ------Æ remained ¼ & filtered through cloth ---Æ Kwatha (decoction)

3. For medicated oil: Sneha Kalpana

Paste of drugs + oil + liquid cooked till evaporation of whole moisture content ----Æ filtered through cloth --Æ medicated oil

Unless otherwise mentioned in the text the more often to ensure that the paste does not paste is one fourth, and liquid is four times get charred. A small portion of the paste is of the quantity of oil. In addition the taken out with help of ladle and examined physician should keep in view several points from time to time to ascertain the condition like: and the stage of cooking (Paka).

1. If in the recipe, no liquid is mentioned Oil preparation should not be completed then four parts of water is used. within one day. If sugar salt, alkali are mentioned as ingredients should be added to 2. Where the number of liquid is four or the finished product and than filtered for less then each has to be taken four times appropriate storage and preservation. of the oil. Medicated oil is used at first for Abhyanga 3. If liquids are more than four in number (Massage) in poliomyelitis on desired part of each should be equal to oil. body then panda svada is applied. Pinda sveda is a process by which the whole body 4. If no paste prescribed, drugs prescribed or a part of it is made to perspire by the for decoction may be used as paste. application of certain medicinal puddings followed by massage. 5. Paste quantity may also vary depending upon the nature of the drug like if paste PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESSING of flower is taken for processing then its FOR PINDA SVEDA quantity will be 1/8 of the oil. 1. Preparation of Decoction & pudding: For processing at first oil is heated to get rid The root of Bala (Sida cordifolia) is off its Ama (moisture ) then the paste popularly used for this therapy. About 500 and liquid are added in it and boiled with gms of root of plant is used for this purpose. continuous stirring so that the paste is not After being washed properly, cut into chips allowed to adhere to the bottom of the and crushed well, put into 8 ltrs of water vessel. Sometimes the liquids are to be approx, then boiled till water evaporated and added one after the other and process of ¼ of it remains. Decoction is then strained boiling continued till the moisture of the through a strainer or a linen cloth. The liquids added earlier is completely decoction now remains 2 ltrs. In quantity. evaporated. When the moisture from all Approximately one liter is added with on ltr liquids is evaporated then the moisture part of cow’s milk and other one liter is kept for of paste begins to evaporate. At this stage, use at a later stage. Now in the above the preparation has to be carefully examined mentioned decoction and milk, about 500gm

4 Pages 50 - 59 of rice is added and cooked till it becomes this purpose e.g Nirgundikwatha, semisolid like a pudding. Dashamoola kwatha etc.

2. Preparation of Boluses 2. Snehika or Anuvasana Vasti-

Pudding thus prepared is divided into 8 This type of vasti consists of excess of sneha equal parts and kept on 8 pieces of cloth. dravyas. So for this purpose medicated oil The edges of these cloth pieces should be prepared with vatahar Dravyas may be used gathered together and tied to form 8 boluses e.g Ksheera bala taila. (bundles). Now this pradhana Karma (Vasti) is Now heat is applied through these bundles followed by pashchat karma in the form of on the desired body part for svedana karma sansarjan Karma as at this stage means after (perspiration). Earlier massage with the oil pradhana karma the digestion becomes poor. helps in maintaining uniformity of the heat Consequently, taking of normal diet is to be applied during the therapy through the injurious. Hence to promote digestion it is pudding bundles. The oil also protects the necessary to give peya vilepi yavagu Akrita skin from sudden evaporation and or krita Yusha and Mans Rasa etc followed perspiration. The previous administration of by normal diet. snehana creates klinnata of Malas which get liquefied by use of svedana and are brought Pharmaceutical processing involved in to koshtha and finally eliminated by use of sansarjan karma: measures contemplated in pradhana karma i.e Vasti. Vasti has been broadly classified Mainly Kwatha Kalpana is applied for into two types according to the nature of its preparation of all types of diet for sansarjan contents: Karma.

1. Niruha or Asthapana Vasti- CONCLUSION:

This type of vasti consists of more of 1. In treatment of poliomyelitis following Decoction, In poliomyelitis decoction therapies with various pharmaceutical prepared with vatahar dravyas is taken for processings are involved.

Snehana – Abhyanga Sneha Kalpana (Swarasa+) + Kalka + Kwatha) 1. Poorva karma Svedana Kwatha Kalpana

Niruha Kwatha Kalpana

2. Vasti Anuvasana Sneha Kalpana

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Sansarjan Kwatha Kalpana

3. Pashchat karma Svedana Various other pharmaceutical processings used for preparation of different pound drug formulations (Kajjali, Parpati, Kupipaka group etc)

2. It is interesting to note that in the ancient examined and found that temperature texts like in the ancient texts like variation causes differences in – Brihatrayi and Laghutrayi there are no suggestions about the preliminary i) Refractive index treatment of oil i.e Murchhana which ii) Specific gravity. however seems to have introduced iii) Acid value sometimes later as its reference are iv) Saponification value found in Bhaishajya Ratnavali. In view v) Ester value of this in modern practice there is a vi) Iodine value etc, are suggestive difference of opinion amongst the of the fact that rancidity, ayurvedic exponents whether murchhana etherification as well as is a necessity or not the previous saturation of the oil is moderately workers tiwari et al suggest that effected even by a variation in murchhana is not necessary for the extent of heating. preparation of medicated oil. 5. In order to have some idea about 3. It is claimed that the therapeutic activity chemical constituents present in different of oil preparation depends upon the samples of oil, thin layer drugs which are thus used in form of chromatographic study and spectral paste during processing of oil study should be done. Thus from the above discussion it is 4. The physical and chemical obvious that pharmaceutical processing characteristics of oil and different effects the action of medicaments heating stages of processing were ultimately influencing drastically the final effect of the drug on body tissues.

REFERENCES

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3. Ashtanga samgraha of vagbhatta, commented by shri Lal Chandra shastri, published by shri vaidyanath Ayurveda Bhavana Ltd Great Nagpur Road, Nagpur -2nd Edition – 1981.

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4. Ashtanga Hridayam of vagbhatta, English Translation by Vagbhatta, English Translation by Prof. K.R Srikantha Murthy, Published by Krishnadas Academy, varanasi Ist Edition 1991 for Vol – I & 1992 for Vol –II.

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8. Pancha Karma Therapy in Ayurveda by Diwakar ojha & Ashok Kumar Published by Chaukhambha Amarabharati prakashan, Gopal mandir Lane, Varanasi – Ist Edition – 1978.

9. Pancha Karma Therapy in Ayurveda Series no 1: Message therapy in Ayurveda by Vaidya Bhagwan Dash, Published by Concept publishing company, Mohan Garden, New Delhi, 1992.

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11. Pharmaceutical and experimental study on panda Taila; M.D (Ay) Thesis: Dr, H.C. Tiwari, Deptt. Of , IMS BHU., VNS; 1981.

12. Standardisation of Ksheera Bala taila, M.D.(AY) Thesis); Dr. K.Shankar Rao Deptt. Of Rasa shastra, IMS., NHU., Varanasi, 1992.

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